Apparatus for the therapeutic treatment of the skin



June 23,, 1970 E. ADLER 3,516,411

APPARATUS FOR THE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF THE SKIN Filed May 13, 1968INVENTOR. f5fe//e Ac//e/- AT ORNEY United States Patent 3,516,411APPARATUS FOR THE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT OF THE SKIN Estelle Adler, 405E. 56th St., New York, NY. 10022 Filed May 13, 1968, Ser. No. 728,643Int. Cl. A61n 1/00 US. Cl. 128-404 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus, particularlyfor the treatment of the surface of the human body, and is an extensionand improvement over the similar apparatus described and claimed in myco-pending Pat. No. 2,597,966, dated May 27, 1952.

In my said patent, I have described and claimed an apparatus for thetreatment of the surface of the human body by the application of suctionthereto, in which regulation of the force of the suction is entirelywithin the control of the operator. The present invention is directed toapparatus for the treatment of the surface of the human body by means ofsuction and by the simultaneous application of heat thereto, as by meansof infra-red heat rays.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide therapeuticapparatus, of the character described, whereby the exposure of the bodysurface to the therapeutic heat rays may be pre-set for automatic aswell as for manual control.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide therapeuticapparatus, of the character described, which is of relatively simpleconstruction; relatively economical to produce, and simple and easy touse and apply to the surface of the human body.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the therapeuticapparatus of the present invention will become more readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in theaccompany drawings, and from the description following. It is to beunderstood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way ofillustration only, to make the principles and practice of the inventionmore readily comprehensive and without any intent of limiting theinvention to the specific details therein shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a more or less schematic, elevational and partly sectionalview of one embodiment of the therapeutic apparatus of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an electric circuit that may be used with theapparatus.

Referring now to the apparatus illustrated in the drawing, the same isshown to comprise an applicator, generally designated as 10, consistingof an inverted, more or less cup-shaped head 12, having the bottomopening 14', defined by an edge 16, conforming more or less to thesurface of the human body. The hollow head is provided at one end with areduced neck 20, by which it is joined to a tubular stem or handle 22,whose free end may be connected to one end of a flexible tube 26, whoseother end connects with an inlet port 28, of

a suction pump 30.

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Interposed between the port 28 and the applicator 10 there is provided atank 32, to which a suitable pressure gauge is connected and anadjustable valve 34, for regulating the maximum degree of vacuum thatwill be available at the applicator opening.

Another valve 38, may be inter-posed between the applicator and the tank32, to avoid losing the reduced pressure effect within the tank when theuse of the applicator is temporarily discontinued. The tubular stem orhandle 22 is provided with a vent 40, set in the wall thereof inposititon to be closed or partially closed by a finger of the operator.

Thus, when the applicator head 12 is applied to the surface of the skinand the suction pump set into operation and connected with the operatinghead 12 and the .vent 40, or completely closed by the finger of theoperator, the full effect of the suction will be applied to the skin ofthe subject through the opening 14 of the applicator. Where theapplicator head is formed of a transparent material or has atransparency set thereinto,

. the operator can continuously observe the effect of the suction uponthe area of the skin surface to which it is applied. After the desiredeffect has been obtained, the operator may remove, wholly or partially,the finger from the opening, and discontinue the suction over that areaor the section to which it had been applied.

Set into the roof of the applicator head 12 is an infrared,heat-ray-producing device, such as an infra-red lamp 42, which is setinto a socket 44, held in the wall of the applicator head 12, andconnected to the roof of the applicator head 12, surrounding the socket44, there may be provided a reflector 46, to reflect heat against thesurface of the body on which the apparatus is used.

A screen 45, may be provided within said applicator, exteriorly of lamp42, to prevent contact of said lamp with the body of a person beingtreated.

Associated with the applicator head 12 and with the lamp 42 andconnected in the circuit of the lamp 42 there is providedheat-responsive means for controlling the circuit through the lamp toautomatically shut the same oif at a predetermined, pre-set temperature.In the illustrated embodiment, such means comprises a bimetallicelement, 48, connected at one end in the circuit of lamp 42 with itsother end adapted to come in and out of contact with the terminal, 50,in said circuit as the temperature within the head 12 reaches or fallsbelow a predetermined temperature. The bi-rnetallic element 48 maypreferably be flexible, to a degree, and have its said other endnormally in contact with terminal 50 and is arranged to break suchcontact at a predetermined temperature and may have its terminalcontacting end adjustable to contact said terminal at differentpressures, so that it will break contact at different temperatures. Suchadjustment may be effected from the exterior of the applicator 12 andmay be elfected by a rotating knob, 52, mounted on the applicator, suchknob including an indicator arm moving along a scale, 54, supportedadjacent said knob; the scale indicating the preset contact breakingtemperature for the bi-metallic element 48.

Additional control over the temperature within the applicator head 12may be provided by means of the offand-on rheostat switch, 56, that maybe mounted on the handle 22 of the apparatus.

This completes the description of the therapeutic apparatus of thepresent invention. It will be readily apparent that such apparatusprovides increased therapeutic benefits when used upon the surface ofthe body. It will also be apparent that such apparatus is convenient, aswell as safe to use, because of the ease and simplicity with which itmay be controlled. It will likewise be apparent that the apparatus ofthe present invention is of relatively simple construction andrelatively economical to produce and use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the therapeuticapparatus of the present invention will become more readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown inaccompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to beunderstood however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustrationonly, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readilycomprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to thespecific details therein shown.

What I claim is:

1. In therapeutic apparatus for the treatment of the body surfacecomprising a substantially cup-shaped applicator body having an openingformed therein with an edge adapted to make snug contact with the bodysurface and controllable means connected to said applicator body forproviding sub-atmospheric pressure therewithin when applied against abody surface, an electrical source for producing infra-red heat rayssecured within said applicator body, said source connected in anelectric circuit, and means connected within said circuit responsive tothe temperature within said applicator body for breaking said circuit ata predetermined temperature within said applicator body.

2. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said infra-red-rayproducing means comprises an electric lamp.

3. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein a heat reflector isprovided within said body around said infrared-ray-producing element.

4. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat-responsivemeans is adjustable for breaking said circuit at varying selectedtemperature levels.

5. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat-responsivemeans comprises a bi-metallic element and a terminal in said circuit,said bi-metallic element being connected at one end within said circuitwith its other end normally in contact with said terminal, and arrangedto move away from said terminal to break said circuit.

6. The therapeutic apparatus of claim 5, wherein said bi-rnetallicelement is flexible and is adjustable from the exterior of said body tocontact said terminal with selected variable pressure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,757 9/1951 Argento 128-4042,580,628 1/1952 Welsh 128404 2,597,966 5/1952 Adler 128-67 2,655,14510/1953 Heger 128241 ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

